Britain outside the EU

[heero_yuy]

I don't know why we bother to pay all that money for the privilege of being bottom.

Plenty of non-EU countries failed to vote for us last night, most likely for the same reasons the EU member states didn't. It was a decent enough song but the performance was awful. James Newman very obviously didn't have the lung capacity or sufficient vocal control to perform live, with no autotune or re-takes. He really should have stuck to songwriting and let someone with a gift for live performance to do the delivery.

The scoreboard followed the same pattern as every year. There's a modest amount of bloc voting amongst certain countries, but there's little evidence of it affecting the top 10 where it is genuinely the songs that best connected with the voting audience and the industry panels that get all the points. If we put in a good song and a good performer and actually made it look like we gave a damn, we would do better. We last seriously tried that when Andrew Lloyd Webber produced one for Jade Ewen in 2009 (and appeared on stage with her, on piano) and we came 5th that year.

Given the pop music heritage this country has, I think to a great extent we're judged against that rather than against other acts on the night. They know we can do better.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

But it has never been anything to do with the EU. The EBU was formed well before the EU (1950) and has a much wider geographical range, including North Africa and the near East (plus associate members across the world).

We all know that! But those voting are mainly to do with the EU and they've been politicised to nul point us wherever possible.

Our holidaymakers should now boycott Spain. This is serious.

🚨 NEW: If there was a referendum on Britain’s membership of the Eurovision Song Contest, how would you vote?

Leave: 52%
Remain: 48%

Via @YouGov

52/48 again.

[nomadking]

Chicken doesn't go from the abattoir straight to the plate. There are many places in-between where contamination can take place. If infections are "covered up" by a chlorinated wash, then that means no infections. What is wrong with that?
No shortage of examples of bad practice at all stages, in the EU and in the UK. Are we really expected to believe there are high standards, fully enforced all across the EU? Chorine washed chicken from the US is likely to be safer than non-chlorine washed chicken from the likes of Romania.
Link

According to a report from the Adam Smith Institute (which argues in favour of allowing PRTs), “immersing poultry meat in chlorine dioxide solution of the strength used in the United States reduces prevalence of salmonella from 14% in controls to 2%. EU chicken samples typically have 15-20% salmonella.”

In other words, prior to any chlorine washing, US chicken is safer than EU chicken. So much for higher EU standards.

What’s more, the US National Chicken Council estimates that only 10% of the processing plants in the US actually use chlorine washes.

So the majority of US chicken isn't chlorine washed in the first place.

Bad abattoir practice doesn't create infections. The infections occur before they reach the abattoir.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

Plenty of non-EU countries failed to vote for us last night, most likely for the same reasons the EU member states didn't. It was a decent enough song but the performance was awful. James Newman very obviously didn't have the lung capacity or sufficient vocal control to perform live, with no autotune or re-takes. He really should have stuck to songwriting and let someone with a gift for live performance to do the delivery.

The scoreboard followed the same pattern as every year. There's a modest amount of bloc voting amongst certain countries, but there's little evidence of it affecting the top 10 where it is genuinely the songs that best connected with the voting audience and the industry panels that get all the points. If we put in a good song and a good performer and actually made it look like we gave a damn, we would do better. We last seriously tried that when Andrew Lloyd Webber produced one for Jade Ewen in 2009 (and appeared on stage with her, on piano) and we came 5th that year.

Given the pop music heritage this country has, I think to a great extent we're judged against that rather than against other acts on the night. They know we can do better.

I think the trouble is entering the Eurovision has now become a bit toxic for a group or singer from Britain. Why risk potential success by entering? And if you do enter an established act, it refocuses Eurovision on being a battle of the bands.

Maybe a British group from the past seeking a re-launch might be the best bet as they would have less to lose but would welcome the exposure for back catalogue sales.

[Mad Max]

Eurovision is absolute dross imo.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

We all know that! But those voting are mainly to do with the EU and they've been politicised to nul point us wherever possible.

Our holidaymakers should now boycott Spain. This is serious.

12 of the 26 finalists aren’t in the EU.

Of the 38 voting countries, 15 are not in the EU

Spain only got 6 points, Germany 3 points, and the Netherlands 11 points - were the EU voters "politicising" their votes as well?

Andreas Michaelis, a German Government official:

Never mind coming last. Outside this very special format - to put it mildly - UK reigns supreme in popular music. The German entry rarely performs well #Eurovision . This year we should proudly accept being last but one. An honour to be placed next to a super power of pop.

Originally Posted by Hugh

12 of the 26 finalists aren’t in the EU.

Of the 38 voting countries, 15 are not in the EU

Spain only got 6 points, Germany 3 points, and the Netherlands 11 points - were the EU voters "politicising" their votes as well?

All of which suggests there’s a built-in disadvantage in not competing in the semi final, but also that that disadvantage is not insurmountable if you send a good act with a good song. Four of the free passes languished at the bottom, Italy and France were at the very top.

[OLD BOY]

We absolutely do have a good reputation for music in this country. So much so that I think many artists over here think it is a bit naff to appear on Eurovision.

We could do much better than this if we really wanted to win.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

We absolutely do have a good reputation for music in this country. So much so that I think many artists over here think it is a bit naff to appear on Eurovision.

We could do much better than this if we really wanted to win.

But do we really want to win? You're right, a better act and a better song would be more in keeping with our status as a co-founder of Eurovision. But that's different from the Schadenfreude of expecting to come last (with nul points) and having a good laugh and debate about it. It's the least we could do to honour Terry Wogan's memory.

[Pierre]

I don't think I've watched since Bucks Fizz won.

I know it exists but it is not on my life radar and certainly nowhere near my list of things to care about.

[tweetiepooh]

I only caught the last part of jury and public vote. I haven't heard any entries but judging by how the performers that did best in the public vote were dressed should indicate what the competition wants/needs to win and that seems to be folk not being overly serious and having some fun. Especially this year, something to feel good, have a laugh and enjoyment.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I don't think I've watched since Bucks Fizz won.

I know it exists but it is not on my life radar and certainly nowhere near my list of things to care about.

I only watched it for the Schadenfreude. Nevertheless, this is a serious matter for which consequences are necessary!